Sanborn Guest House

This enduringly hip Los Feliz favorite is best experienced with friends, but we can’t help feeling a tiny bit selfish when the chicken and pine nut pies wrapped in flaky phyllo arrive or when oyster mushroom skewers with a creamy onion and cashew sauce land on the table. And the Persian crispy rice with egg yolks? Do we have to share this one too? Such is the enduring charm of this Middle Eastern hotspot that prioritizes seasonal vegetables and bright flavors. Nothing feels heavy, ever, and even the most familiar of ingredients can surprise. The staff is equally charming, as cool as the cucumb

Expect to be greeted with an array of sambals as well as Malaysian classics on Chef Johnny Lee's Chinese-Malaysian menu. Don't let the slightly higher price point steer you away, as these large plates are designed for sharing. Pork jowl or chicken satay skewers start things off right, as do ulam bendi with charred okra, and steamed eggplant with sambal and dried shrimp. There are plenty of main dishes to choose from, but beef rendang in a rich and creamy curry accompanied by a buttery roti is a sure thing. To finish, look no further than the cendol sundae with coconut and pandan ice cream with

Once itinerant, Anna Sonenshein and Niki Vahle now welcome guests to their Echo Park location where they share space with a mini market. Come for breakfast or lunch—both are delicious. As their name suggests, the menu is seafood-focused, but steak and vegetarian offerings are also on offer. Mornings are met with items like fish tartines and fish and mushroom congee, while lunch features heartier sandwiches like their signature fried fish. The beer-battered Pacific striped bass is tender and sweet, then topped with American cheese, kewpie mayo and dill pickles on a potato bun for a midday meal

As has been the case since opening in 2005, purity and precision are the underpinnings of Chef Michael Cimarusti's California cooking, and his cuisine has grown even more impressive over the years. The tasting menu blends global inspiration and classic technique with a modern sensibility, and sources the freshest and most sustainable seafood, often wild-caught from American waters. At no point during the meal will you doubt its impeccable quality, especially while savoring dishes such as a tart of lobster mousse and box crab set in a crab beurre blanc, or roasted monkfish with cauliflower and

Just a short walk from their original food stall, this restaurant's strip mall digs are simple but it's a comfortable, welcoming spot with a tempting menu to boot. As the name suggests, their specialty is noodles, particularly boat noodles with a thick, intense broth and your choice of pork or beef, noodle type, and spice level. Fret not if you can't decide, as the bowls are small and ordering two or more varieties might just be the perfect compromise. Don't skip out on their stir-fried dishes, such as the boldly spiced chili holy basil with ground pork, bell peppers, and green beans. For dess

Everything old is new again at Chef/owner Kevin Meehan's Kali, which has been reimagined as a classic Hollywood steakhouse. The dining room, split in two with a full-service bar and a luxe dining room behind a red curtain, gets all the details right (think lipstick red carpeting and cushioned seating). The menu begins with tried-and-true favorites like beef tartare or mushroom risotto, but the centerpiece is certainly their Creekstone Farms steak. Of course, there must be potatoes (get the a'la loaded that's baked and fried to order). Desserts also lean traditional, as in crème brûlée or a sea

A longtime fixture in LA's sushi culture, Chef Morihiro Onodera now operates from a more expansive, contemporary space that reflects both his history and his ambitions. Along with an à la carte menu, the restaurant offers an omakase experience that blends traditional sushi counter dining with subtle references to cha-kaiseki, beginning with a sequence of composed dishes before moving into nigiri. Seafood is primarily sourced from Japan, and the rice is milled in-house, underscoring a focus on ingredient integrity and control. Handmade ceramics crafted by the chef himself remain part of the pre